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Persistent Links: Using Durable Linking

When you search the library databases, the URLs in the browser address line are specific to your particular session. However, you may create links to specific articles in EBSCO and ProQuest. To get a "durable/persistent link" — one that others may click to access the article — you must obtain the correct link. Below are the instructions for obtaining links in EBSCO- and ProQuest-brand databases.

For a link to work from off campus, it must include the information for our proxy server — this is what prompts the system to request the SPU username and password to authenticate users from off campus.

If you obtain your link while searching an SPU database, this proxy information should already be part of the URL. However, you may want to double-check the URL by comparing it to examples in the third section of this page: Allowing off-campus access to article.

Currently only EBSCO and ProQuest offer durable/persistent linking.

Creating persistent links to EBSCOhost database articles

Search for the article.

Click on the article title so you can look at the article citation and abstract.

Click on the Permalink button on the right of the screen. Permalink will show about the article citation.

Highlight and copy this URL beginning with the http:// through to the end. Then you may paste this link into your online course materials.

If you email records to yourself, you will not have the proxy information for off-campus access. You must copy the URL while you are accessing the database online.

Creating durable links to ProQuest database articles

Search for the article.

Click on the article title so you can look at the article citation and abstract.

Scroll down the page. Below the citation and abstract, you will see a URL labeled "Document URL."

Highlight and copy this URL beginning with the http:// through to the end. Then you may paste this link into your online course materials.

If you email records to yourself, you will not have the proxy information for off-campus access. You must copy the URL while you are accessing the database online.

Ensuring off-campus access to the link

Our campus proxy server, EZproxy, appends some information to the beginning of the database durable URL. Just add this to the front of any URL that need to go through the SPU proxy: http://ezproxy.spu.edu/login?url=